Opposition to Motion to Suppress

A lawyer for accused arsonist Anthony Baye said this morning that police tried to trick him into confessing by telling him he wouldn't be charged with a crime. Baye, 26, of 85 Hawley St., has pleaded innocent to two counts of murder and multiple other charges connected to a string of suspicious fires around Northampton Dec. 27, 2009. Two state police investigators, Trooper Michael Mazza and Sgt. Paul Zipper, told Baye they had already "conclusively proven" that Baye set the fires, said defense attorney David Hoose. All they wanted to know, Hoose said, was why. Special prosecutor Brett Vottero said Baye voluntarily admitted setting the fires. Vottero described Baye's requests for a lawyer as "equivocal." Vottero said the state troopers told Baye he could leave the police station at any time, but he agreed to continue speaking with them, Vottero said.